Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute Mick Keogh said a promising food export future would result when international consumers were familiar with the quality of Australian produce.
He said it was especially important in seizing the opportunities offered by new markets, especially in Asia and India.
"Access and recognition of the specific qualities of Australian agricultural products are the two things critical to Australia’s success in these markets," Keogh said.
"If overseas consumers become familiar with our produce and appreciate its quality, we could see some of the political barriers broken down to improve export access".
Keogh’s predictions were supported by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Chief Economist Dr Joseph Glauber who gave an overview of opportunities in emerging Asian markets from a US perspective.
Dr Glauber highlighted the need for increased agricultural productivity and improved market access arrangements to meet the likely increase in Asian demand for high quality protein products such as meat, dairy products, fruit and vegetables.
"There will also be a need for increased transparency, increased productivity and improved market access," Dr Glauber said.
Conference delegates also heard from Professor Ramesh Chand, Director of India's National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), on the outlook for Indian agriculture and food demand.
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